Tourist Information
The Central Goldfields Visitor Information Centre is located at the corner of Alma and Nolan Sts. It is open daily from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m., tel: (03) 5460 4511. It can furnish material relating to outlying towns, a driving tour of Maryborough, bushwalking and bike riding in the local forests, and some very detailed information outlining driving tours around the district which take in its many historic sites and relics, such as the old minesites, mullock heaps and shafts.
Railway Station
When Mark Twain visited Maryborough in the 1890s he described it as 'a railway station with a town attached'. It sounds like a rude remark but the Maryborough Railway Station is a wonder tobehold. It is huge and gracious: a vast 25-room edifice which is surely Maryborough's finest building. Erected in 1890, it is a red-brick structure with plenty of stucco trimming for contrast. Highlights include the ornate clock tower, Flemish gables, massive portico, marble dressing tables in the women's toilets, some attractive wrought-iron work on the verandah, oak wall panels and one of the longest platforms in the Southern Hemisphere. There are 14 tracks, although the railway line is now sadly defunkt.
The station is located at the end of Station St, which runs off Burns St. It now houses the Antique Emporium, Twains' Woodwork Gallery and woodturning group and, on Sundays, there is a family history research facility available.
Worsley Cottage
Midlands Historical Society Museum is located in a bluestone building in Palmerston St known as Worsley Cottage (1894 with pre-1908 extensions). There are photographs and memorabilia relating to the local area. It is open Sundays from 2.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.
To its rear is an old slab squatter's hut from Plaistow which was the home of the Joyce family - the first white squatters of the Moorlort Plains.
Methodist Church
Walk along to Inkerman St and turn right. Between the primary school and Clarendon St, on the western side of the road, is one of the oldest buildings in town - the former Methodist Church (1854), not currently open to the public.
MacLandress Square
Turn left into Clarendon St. On the far side of Havelock St is the town's civic centre located on the site of the original government camp in the area. In the European style the Italianate buildings face a small square, known as MacLandress Square. The imposing Victorian post office was built in 1877 as a post office, courthouse and sub-treasury. The present town hall was built in 1887 and the present courthouse in 1892-93.
Central Goldfields Arts Gallery
Opposite the square, in Neill St, is the old fire station (1861) which now contains the Central Goldfields Regional Arts Complex. An exceptional boom-style belltower was added in 1888 with a bell from the homestead of the Simsons, the first pastoralists in the district. It is registered with the National Trust and now graces the entrance to the present fire station at the eastern end of Napier St.
Other Historic Buildings
Head north along Neill St. To the right is the former mining board office. It was built of local stone c.1857 to serve as the town's courthouse but proved too small for that purpose. At Neill and Palmerston is St Andrew's Uniting Church, built in 1860 to a Gothic design. Turn right into Palmerston then right again into Nightingale St. To the left is the bluestone Gothic Anglican church (1860).
Stateley House, formerly the State Bank (1882) and now the Commonwealth Bank, is at 106-108 High St (the western end). There are also historic residences in Park Rd, Argyle Rd, Nolan St, High St, Clarendon St and Napier St.
Galleries
The Central Victorian Arts and Craft Centre is open seven days. The Possum Gully Road Studio Art Gallery features paintings, sketches, lithographs and etchings by local artists. It is open weekends and public holidays or by appointment and is located off the Pyrenees Highway between Maryborough and Avoca. Watch for the sign on the southern side of the highway about 1 km west of the railway line, as you leave Maryborough, tel: (03) 5461 1775.
Maryborough Flour Mill Gallery
Located at The Old Maryborough Flour Mill, cnr of Inkerman & Albert Streets, it is open Wednesday to Sunday 11.00am - 5.00pm or by appointment. Browse through the 120 year old flour mill and inspect the superb collection of handcrafted furniture, fine arts and distinctive gifts. Enquiries regarding visits to the gallery and bus tours or to exhibit please phone (03) 5460 5400 Email: bovalino@origin.net.au
Pioneer Memorial Lookout Tower
The Pioneer Memorial Tower (1933) was a Great Depression-era works project built largely of material from the old gaol. It is situated at the edge of the Bristol Hill Reserve, adjacent Miners Drive and offers great views of the town. Bristol Hill (905 m above sea-level) is based upon and named after Bristol Reef which was mined for gold from the late 1850s. There are old tailings to the west of the tower.
Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria is bordered by a recreation reserve, a caravan park and camping area, an adventure playground, picnic-barbecue facilities and a sports complex. It is bordered by Park Rd, Holyrood St, Burns St and Earl St. Adjacent is Princes Park which features a timber rotunda built in 1904 for the town's golden jubilee.
Phillips Gardens
Phillips Gardens, bordered by Napier, Inkerman and Alma Sts, features some beautiful trees and picnic areas. It is intended to surround a lake which was originally a dam for the supply of water for goldmining. The botanic gardens got under way in the 1870s. One of the few original plantings is a rare Australian red cedar. There are extensive walkways.
Aboriginal Wells
To the south of town are four rock wells dug into sandstone by the Jajowurrong people prior to European settlement. Head out of town on Derby Rd (towards Ballarat), turn left into Lean St, cross over the railway line, turn right into Stoneham Drive, left into Wells Rd and, after 2 km, take the signposted left and the wells are 200 metres away.
Paddys Ranges State Park and Maryborough Regional Park
Paddys Ranges State Park (1675 ha) and Maryborough Regional Park (270 ha) consist largely of grey box, yellow gum and red ironbark woodlands. Some goldmining relics remain, such as the water race which extends from Goldfields Reservoir in Maryborough itself.
The park is bordered to the east by the Maryborough-Ballarat Rd and to the west by the Old Avoca Rd and Possum Gully Rd. Graded roads head off these major arteries into the park. Wildflowers (over 230 species) bloom profusely in spring, especially along Settling Ponds Track, Whipstick Track and Possum Gully Track. The park also contains 140 native bird species (some rare) and native animals.
There is a picnic area which is clearly signposted off the Maryborough-Ballarat Rd. It has an information board outlining the park's features, history and possible activities and walking tracks which leads through vegetation communities, cultural areas and scenic spots.
There is a bush camping area with basic facilities on Karri Track (which runs off the Old Avoca Rd) at the western edge of the park. A loop track starts here and links up with the picnic area. For more information ring (03) 5461 1055.
Tipperary Hill Estate
Tipperary Hill Estate, established in 1986, is located on the Alma-Bowenvale Rd at Alma, 5.5 km north-west of the Maryborough post office via the Natte-Yallock Rd. It produces cabernet sauvignon, a cabernet franc/merlot blend, shiraz, pinot noir and the ocasional pinot shiraz. The estate is open by appointment, tel: (03) 5461 3312.
Timor and Bet Bet
Timor (8 km north-north-west) is an old goldmining township which features a number of historic relics, such as the granite arch to the pumphouse of the Grand Duke Mine which operated from 1869-1896. The shafts extended 6 km underground. The Miners Right Store (1852) is one of the state's oldest shops is now closed. Behind it is a prefabricated gaol dating from around 1890. The primary school was opened in 1863 and the cemetery is of interest.
The mine shafts created by Chinese diggers can be found in this area. Unlike the rectangular holes created by European miners, the Chinese dug round shafts as they believed malevolent spirits were capable of concealing themselves in corners.
North of Maryborough, on the road to Dunolly, is the ghost town of Bet Bet which contains a tumble-down old church, a couple of homesteads, the railway line and a recreation reserve.
Local tour guides can direct you to elusive mining remnants, tel: (1800) 356 511.
Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter
Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now.